Improvement in latches for gates



` To all whom it may concern;1

i hereby declare that the following is a full,

i tongue on thegate.

. vibrating, gravitating r leverD. l ,l

`'.lbe bracket O is a rectangular piece, scoured rigrHanVarcaturo, or,GALENA, ILL-mois.

LeamPaat Ng.1c3,143`, ma Magia 1870.

moc- *HOO- theShedule referred to in these Letters Patent and makingpart of the same.

Be it known that-I, HENRY CLYMO, of Galena, in the county of J o Daviess1and State of Illinois, have invented a newland improved Gate-Latch; andIdo clear, and exactdescrlptlon thereof; reference being had to theaccompanying drawings making vpart ofthis specifica@ tion, inwhich-Figure 1 is a perspective` view of the improved gatelatch applied to agate and 'gate-post. Y

Figure: 2 is a sectionalg View through the bracket and catch, and an-eudview of the loadedk lever and i Figure 3 is a front view of thedevice. Y

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding partsv in theseveral figures., This invention nconsists of a gate-latch, combining inits construction the following elements, to wit: A catching-tongue,which ispivoted to a fixed bracket; a loaded lever, which is pivoted tothe gate, for lifting the said catching-tongue, and a tongue .which isapplied vto the gate, so as to be caught bysaid catching-tongue, all aswill be hereinafter explained. Y i

Toenable others skilled in `the art to understand mylinvention, I willdescribe its construction andV operation. u A is a gate-post, and B, ahorizontally-swinging gate.

E is a broad staple, which is Vsecured properly to thelgate B,andthrough which ,a lever, D, is passed, that is pivoted at t', andloaded at b.-

The long arm. b' of this 1 lever is arranged in a position that will.allow it to be conveniently grasped from' either side of the gate.

'lhe horizontal tongue B is secured `rigidly to the gate, so as toextend out therefrom, and, when the gate is shut, liebeneathv a bracket,G, which is secured to the gatepst A, as shown in figs. 1, 2, and 3. v

Between the upper edge of said tongue B' and the bottom of `the bracketG is a space, s, of suiicient depth to allow the gate tol be opened whentb'e -free endiof a catch, G,is raised, by means of the loaded idlytothe gate-post, aud extending out perpendicnlai'ly therefrom.

Its bottom surface presents a concavity, c, and to' its outer end a ilatcatching-tongue, G, is pivoted by a horizontal pin, a.

The free end of this catching-tongue rests upon the` free end ofthecatch G to drop and fasten the gate,k l

when the latter is'shnt. 5

This lever D serves not only as a means for lift-ing the free end of thecatch, to open the gate, but it'also serves as a support for the freeend of saidcatch, when the gate is fastened.

The bracket- 0 serves two purposes, to wit: It isa support for the outerend of the catch G, and it is a cover for this catclnto prevent theaccumulationabove it of snow. f

This bracket() is-coucave on its bottom, sothat, should a foreignsubstance find lodgment in the catch,` it will bereceived into thisconcavity, and not prevent the catch from being raised.

The tongue B serves, inconjunction with the catch G, to fasten the gate,and also as a stop for the gate,

be fastened.

I am aware that gravitating catchesand latches have been used for gatesand otberpurposes long prior to tbe device hereindescribed,and,`therefore, ,I make no clain1,.broadly, to self-fasteninggravitating catches.

Having described my invention, f What I claim as new, and desire tosecure `by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the vertically-vibrating gravitating catch G,appliedto bracket O, a loaded lever, D, pivoted to the gate, and thehorizontally-swinging tongue B', applied` to the gate, said parts beingarranged to operate substantially as described.

2. The construction of tbe fixed bracket G, with a4 concavity, c, in itsbottom surface, in combination with the vertically-vibrating catch G,substantially as described.`

Witnesses: A

W. R. HOLDER, -W. M. DAVIS.

HENRY `cLYMo.

